National Endowment for the Humanities grant funds sustainability education at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

The $34,995 grant supports the “Education for Sustainability through the Humanities Project” which will develop and implement educational programming that helps formulate how to build sustainable human communities and solve global problems.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Associate Professor and NEH grant Project Director Dale Brooker in his office. Photo: Evan Loignon.

The National Endowment for the Humanities named Saint Joseph’s College of Maine as one of 233 grant recipients nationwide who have been awarded, collectively, $28.6 million in grants. The College’s “Education for Sustainability through the Humanities” (ESTH) Project will develop and implement interdisciplinary and humanities-based curriculum, professional development workshops, and partnerships that will help society understand how to build sustainable human communities.

 “Saint Joseph’s College has provided generations of students with a high-quality liberal arts education to prepare them for successful careers and inspire them to give back to their communities. 

By supporting efforts to incorporate sustainability education in its curriculum, this funding will help the College build on its record of giving students the foundation they need to confront pressing challenges and become better citizens,” said Senators Collins and King and Representative Pingree in a joint statement.

Vice President & Chief Learning Officer Michael Pardales said, “Saint Joseph’s College has pivoted toward a greater focus on challenging students to explore what it means to cultivate a sustainable society that supports healthy systems in all domains. Following the Sisters of Mercy tradition and our mission rooted in Catholic social teaching, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine’s broader approach to sustainability includes not only the natural environment and ecological systems, but also human health, justice systems, economic systems, and secure livelihoods for future generations. The proposed ESTH Project advances this broad notion of ‘sustainability education.’”

Saint Joseph’s College’s Director of Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Dale Brooker(who will serve as the NEH grant project director) said, “The Education for Sustainability Through the Humanities Project seeks to prepare our students with the critical and analytical thinking skills necessary to solve the emerging global challenges and opportunities in our complex, modern world. We are grateful for the support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and look forward to implementing these initiatives.”

As Project Director, Brooker will lead an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and community partners who will implement the project.